Hive frame



Nov. 18, 1930. G. s. FRATER HIVE FRAME Filed Dec. 1929 547/2727 ZZFfi/FF. &% 66. M W

Patented Nov. 18, 1930 v GORDON G. FRATEB, OFWATERTOWN, WISCONSIN, n'ssienon To G. 'B. LEwIscOM ANYQ.

F WATERTOWN, wrsconsnen oo ronn rron or WISCONSIN:

HrvE F AME Application filed December 7,1929. -Sei'ia1 No. 412,433.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in frames for honey combs and has as an object the provision of anv improved frame structure. having in- ,creased rigidity and having positive means for endwise spacing the frame within the hive body or super without the necessity of extra attachments,

A more specific object of this invention re m sides in' the provision of an improved frame having the ends of'its top bar exteriorly of .the side bars notched to provide integral shoulders which cooperate with the hive body or super to properly space the side bars 5 within the hive. I

' Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved frame structure wherein the top bar end lugs adjacent the shoulder are of increased thickness to give the frame added strength at its natural breaking point.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved comb framehaving an integral shoulder for spacza'ing its side bars -within the hive, which;

. means automatically centers the frame within the hive.

With the above and other objects in View V which will appear as the description proceeds, my 1nvent1on resides-in the novel construction, COIIlblIlittlOIl and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described" and moreparticularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying, drawing, Ihave illustrated several complete examples of the physical embodiment of myinvention constructed according to the best modes I'have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a hive hive on the plane ofvthe line 2-2; v

with the top removed and having frames new 7 f Figure 3 is 'a perspective view ofthe upper corner of the frame illustrating one form p of my invention,"

Figure & is a view similar to Flof aslightmodification of my invention; 1

.sFlgure 5 1s a view partly m' section and partly in elevation taken on the planeof the line 5+5 of Figure 4; and 1 Fi ures is aviewgof another modified form of my invention.

' several views, 5 designates a hive bodyjconsistingof end members 6 and side members 7 adapted to have a -plurality of'sidew-ise arranged honey comb frames 8 supported therein from offset shoulders 9 on the upper marginal edge portions of thesides7. The shoulders 9 preferably have metal runners or supporting members 10 secured thereto, from which vertical ribs or beads 11 extend to support-the frames 8.

jEachframe 8 consists of side bars 12 con nectedatqtheir upper. ends by a top bar 13 and at'their'lowerendsby a bottom bar, as shown in Letters PatentNo. 1,725,448issued Otto GLErdmanthe 20th day of October, 192$), means being provided for suitably securing a' comb foundation 14 ;-within the frame;

-As 7 illustrated in Y the Erdma n patent, the a sidebars. The fullthickness of the top bar extends beyond the side bars and has the bottom portion of its ends out away,v as at17,,to provideshoulders 18 spacedfrom theadja cent side bars adistance it is desired to hold the sidebars from the sides 70f the hive, the shoulders 18 abutting the vertical ribs 11in the manner illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 6. i.

Heretofore,-t-he ends of the top bars 13 have been reduced in thickness from a point adjacent the inner faces of the side bars, and staples f or other similar means have been driven into the side bars to provide a stop to space the ends of the frames from the hive sides 7. This construction has been objecso; Referring now more partlcularlyto the r tionable in that the reduced thickness of the top bar-ends weakened it at a point where breakage is most likely to occur, especially during handling of the hive when the combs are full of honey. The use of staples and other separate means for spacing the frame endwis'e also weakened the structure and involved additional expense. The structure of this invention, therefore, overcomes these objecti'onab'le features.and'eliminate's to a large degree breakage in handling, in addition to providing a simplified and improved positive spacing means for the frame.

new

pieces, said abutments providing means limiting endwise movement of the frame within a hive, means securing the top bar to the side piece, and said abutments being inclined downwardly and inwardly.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiiiIed-my signature.

GORDON e. FRATER.

L In the structure illustrated in Figures 4 and I 5, the shoulder 18 is cut away at its corners, as, at 20, to eliminate the surface bearing against the head 11 and thus reduce the sur face most apt to be glued or wax'ed'to the head by the bees, and in Figure 6 the shoulder 18 is illustrated as inclined downwardly and inwardly so that in the event the frame is carelessly placed within the hive its own weight will tend to center. the same, the inclined shoulders acting in the manner of cams.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to whichan invention'o'fthe character described appertains, that I provide a novel and improved frame structure which provides a simple means for spacing the frame endwise within the hive and in which the top bar is materially strengthened.

hat I claim as my invention is;

1. A device of the character described in cluding a top bar and side pieces, the side pieces having their'u'pp'erends biturcated'to receive thetop bar therein, and an abutment on the top bar adjacent each end and located medially of the adjacent side piece outer surfaceand'the top barend, sa'id'abutr'nents being formed by reducing the outer end portions oi: the top bar.

2. A deviceof the 'cl1aracter described,'in-

clu'dinga top bar andside pieces, the top bar having recesses in its opposite sides of a width substantially equal to the thickness of the side pieces, and thead'jacent ends of the side pieces being bifurcated and having spaced projections received in the recesses of the top suliistantially equal to the thickness of the side pieces, and the adjacent ends of the side pieces being bifurcated and having spaced 7 projections received within the recesses of the top bar, abutments formed on the top bar ad acent its ends and outwardly of the side 

